‘The Book of Mormon’ Comes to Chicago: These Actors Share Their Journeys

Sam McLellan, Keke Nesbitt, Sam Nackman, and company in “The Book of Mormon” North American tour (Photo Credit: Julieta Cervantes). When “The Book of Mormon,” a musical comedy about missionaries, first opened on Broadway in 2011, it beguiled audiences.& The opening scene compelled one New York Times reviewer to write, “In those few moments, careering between the lethally serious and the cheekily comic, “The Book of Mormon” does something more profound than grip its audience. It provides a sophisticated insight, one of many in the show, into the missionary experience.” Since then, the production by Trey Parker, Robert Lopez, and Matt Stone of “South Park” fame has become one of the most successful musicals ever. It has won nine Tony Awards and boasts an impressive alumni of actors, ranging from Brian Tyree Henry (“Atlanta,” “Spider-Man: Into the Spider-Verse”) to Josh Gad (“Frozen”).& Starting Tuesday (Sept. 10), “The Book of Mormon” returns to Broadway In Chicago’s Cadillac Palace Theatre (151 W. Randolph) for eight performances between Sept. 10 through Sept. 15.& The Chicago Defender caught up with three Black actors playing in the latest iteration of the musical: Lamont J. Whitaker, Keke Nesbitt and Dewight Braxton Jr. We chatted about everything...